424 M. Sars on the Distribution of Animal Life 



coast in the last two years, which, however, as the necessary 

 means for reaching greater depths are still wanting, have for 

 the present been limited to depths between 200 and 300 

 fathoms, only in a few cases reaching 450 fathoms. 



The apparatus, such as the sounding-lead and " Bulldog's 

 machines," which have hitherto especially been employed 

 for the investigation of great depths in the sea, are in reality 

 very imj)erfect, inasmuch as with them one can only bring up 

 a very small portion of what there is at the sea-bottom, and 

 only from that particular and very limited space upon which the 

 instrument may chance to descend. The ordinary large 

 dredge, which has done such good service in smaller depths, 

 can hardly be used at depths above 200 fathoms, except by 

 an extraordinary expenditure of time and money ; and yet it 

 is undoubtedly the most serviceable apparatus for the purpose, 

 as it can be dragged over a larger portion of the sea-bottom, 

 and by this means take up a greater number of the animals 

 living upon it. It is of consequence therefore to improve 

 this apparatus so as to fit it for more convenient use at great 

 depths. Such a modified dredge, of smaller dimensions than 

 the common, but yet sufficiently heavy to withstand the force 

 of the often strong sea-currents, and provided with a fine net to 

 contain animals, has been constructed by my son, G. O. Sars, 

 and found to be very convenient in depths of 300 fathoms, 

 and even sufficient at 450 fathoms. With this instrument 

 nearly all the species referred to in the present paper have 

 been obtained. 



Since my former paper on this subject, '^ Remarks on the 

 extent of Animal Life in the depths of the Sea" (^ Chris- 

 tianias Videnskabs-Selskabs Fordhandlinger,' 1864), I am in a 

 position to make a very considerable addition to what is there 

 contained, nearly all derived from my son's unwearied re- 

 searches during his journeys to the Lofodens, and some con- 

 tributions kindly communicated by my friends Danielssen 

 and Koren. The number of species from the depth men- 

 tioned is, with this addition, which amounts to nearly 

 quadruple what was known before, increased to such a 

 degree that it now supplies us with a tolerably clear idea of 

 the whole fauna living there, which seems very far indeed 

 from being yet fully known — though it is worthy of remark 

 that it exhibits representatives of nearly all classes of marine 

 animals, and an unexpected wealth of forms, of which not a 

 few seem to be peculiar to these depths, while the remainder 

 belong to levels more or less high up. 



In my former paper 92 species were given as occurring on 

 our coast at a depth of 200 or 300 fathoms. As three of these 



